Toddler bed or straight to single?

[ThePetiteMummy]

Just thinking ahead here! Dd is 22 months, and currently in a cot bed, with sides on. We're expecting dc2 in August, and planning on having him/her in a crib in our room for the first few months (was 7 months with dd, but she is quite tiny). But obviously at some point we'll want to move the new baby into the cot bed, and dd into her own room. I initially assumed we'd go for a toddler bed, but I'm now wondering if this is pointless, and of it would make more sense to put her straight into a single bed (with some sort of guard I suppose). I can't quite get my head around her being able to wander around her room, but I guess it has to happen eventually! Touch wood, she hasn't yet learnt to climb out of her cot!

Any thoughts appreciated!

go for a single bed and get an 'exciting' duvet set.

DD and DS both went into single beds at about 15/18months, it was fine except for climbing out 28437326 times at bedtime with a bedrail. I would go for it, toddler beds seem a bit pointless to me. Although they are cute and if I was made of money I would probably have bought one anyway

We had a stairgate on the bedroom doorway initially then just had a stairgate at the top of the stairs once DD was potty trained so she could get to the bathroom. We swapped DD over gradually, set up the bed and offered her a choice of cot or bed for a week or two, then we got rid of the cot. We didn't want her to feel we were stealing her cot for the new baby

DS just got told, here's your lovely new bed - you sleep here now

Ds is 2.9 and I'm expecting dc2 in may, ds
Is still in cot bed with sides on, I'm going to move him into a single bed in his new big boy's room soon (once I've finished painting it!) I already have a spare single so seems pointless to buy a toddler bed he'll only use for a year or two. I am planning on getting a bed guard or those dream tube sheet things.

DS1 went straight to standard single bed at 26m, well before dd2 put in an appearance, so tehre would be no "baby has taken my cot" sort of stuff. We bought a folding bedrail which was great, as it could go away with us too. FWIW, neither DS1, nor DD2 (now just 3, moved to bed about 10m ago, inherited the bed rail from DS1 who no longer needs it) ever got themselves out of bed either in the night or the morning. DD2 still waits for us to go in and fetch her. Afraid I have no tips on how to achieve this, i suspect it's a personality thing, but just to reassure you that putting them in a bed doesn't mean having a nocturnal wanderer!

Mine have both gone straight into a single bed. No bed rail either, they only fall out a couple of times before they get the hang of it . I really don't see the point of toddler beds other than as a means of extracting more money from unsuspecting parents, its just a bloody bed isn't it?

Thanks all, such speedy replies! Looks like a single is the way to go!

Mefifi, I can just see dd liking an 'exciting' duvet set! They seem to have some lovely ones in the Next directory at the moment.

MoaningMinnie, I am inclined to agree that toddler beds seem a bit pointless, especially when you start to consider a special size mattress & bedding, even though they look cute. I had thought of putting a gate on her bedroom door actually. We intend to move her into her own room before the new one moves into the cot bed, so hopefully she won't be too miffed!

Lindsell, those Dream tubes look good, but I read a few reviews about punctures, not sure if this could be an issue?

Wearymum, I agree that it would probably be best to move dd before the new baby arrives, but it just feels a bit soon for us (plus I might get a bit emotional about her leaving the nursery!). A folding bed rail is what I had in mind, can I ask what one you use? It's sweet that your dc wait to be 'collected' in the morning, fingers crossed dd will be like this! At the moment, she will happily lie in her cot awake for a while in the mornings, happily chattering or singing to herself!

Waswondering, if we weren't having another, I could easily imagine dd staying in her cot bed until age 6, she's not even half the length of it at the moment! She's going to look lost in a 'real' bed!

Actually, I think she'll probably be excited about the whole thing, she loves getting onto our bed when I'm getting ready in the mornings, & snuggling herself under the duvet!

I think I agree Indith. I guess toddlers are fairly robust, I must say I did wonder if a bed rail was necessary, it's not that far from a bed to the floor is it?! Is that a bit mean?!

It never crossed my mind to have a rail when we moved ds into a bed so maybe I am mean! I just put a spare duvet on the floor to give them a soft landing . For a while after ds moved we used to hear a thump in the night followed by a little "stomp stomp stomp" and then a small boy would wriggle his way into my bed and snuggle up :).

Ha ha, yes Indith, a soft landing is the key! I was thinking of a furry rug or something. Very sweet of your ds, bless him!

Well they can of course fall out round the bed rail... its presence however means that both child and duvet stay on the bed most nights.
I'm on phone so can't link, but we bought our rail from jojomamanbebe.

Thanks Weary, that's helpful, I hadn't actually thought to look there. I realise it's not a full barrier like a cot, but it's helpful to know they do serve some purpose! As I said, am planning way ahead here, I think mainly because I don't need to buy anything for dc2, so no baby shopping to focus on!

We just did 'straight to single bed' with ds & dd1. Both before the age of 2 - probably about 18 months - to avoid the 'baby has stolen my cot!' thing.

The cot we had did turn into a toddler bed, & dd2 used it as one for several months, but only because we were about to move & all three of them were briefly in one room which couldn't've fitted 3 beds. & my mum has one, passed down by a cousin, which has been used by all three when they've stayed (not all at once obv...), but again, only because it fits neatly in a small, awkward space.

I wouldn't bother with a toddler bed unless you're short of space tbh. & I didn't use barriers - both ds & dd1 occasionally fell harmlessly out of bed - the one time damage was done involved dd1 climbing over a bed guard at a friend's house, slipping, & putting a tooth through her lip as her chin hit the guard...

You could always start off with a mattress on the floor if you're worried about the falling out!